Method for the delivery or reception of uniform quantities of liquids or gases, and hose with a shaped cross-section for use in the method

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an elastic hose with a shaped unsymmetrical cross-section for the delivery of liquids or gases through apertures along the hose, the delivery rate being uniform even over long lengths of hose. The hose is optionally housed in an outer tension-proof cover tube with an open cross-section, in particular a tube open along a generatrix, for the reception of additioned liquids or gases.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an elastic hose with a deformed asymmetricalcross-section for the uniform discharge of liquids or gases via openingswhich are arranged along the hose and over long hose lengths.

The invention also relates to a method of discharging liquids, gases orfluids into the surroundings, such as the ground or water surfaces,and/or taking in liquids, gases or fluids from said surroundings, viadiscrete openings distributed in the longitudinal direction, inparticular for the purpose of "in situ" treatment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the case of such cross-sectionally deformed hoses which have wallthicknesses which are adapted in accordance with the functioningprinciple and are intended for the uniformly metered discharge, or theuniform extraction by suction, of liquids or gases over long lengths byway of outlet locations which are arranged lengthwise at certaindistances apart, possible categories are "the admission/extraction ofair" and "the admission/extraction of water" with the special criteriaof "uniform large-surface-area treatment".

In the case of the already known hoses for the metered discharge ofgases or liquids, the outlet quantity at the individual outlet locationsdepends on the internal pressure at the site where they are arranged.The feed-in pressure provided at one hose end drops sharply as the hoselength increases (due to friction and branching losses). Along the hose,this results in normally large differences in outlet quantities at theopenings, with the result that, for this reason, only short hose lengthsare used if there is a need for a relatively uniform liquid or gasdischarge per meter.

The uniform discharge is also adversely affected if mechanical drillingin plastics produces burrs in the bore. In the case of a change inpressure, these burrs are forced into the openings again. This resultsin outlet openings of different sizes, through which, both in thepressureless state and in the pressurized state, the discharge ofuniform quantities at each outlet location is not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to develop hoses or the like which areintroduced over long lengths, such that their function is not lost as aresult of the large laying forces to which they are subjected.

Surprisingly, this is achieved, in the case of a hose of the typementioned in the introduction, in that, for the purpose of optionallytaking in additional liquids or gases, an outer tension-resistantdraw-in tube with an open cross-section, in particular open along ageneratrix, is provided for accommodating the elastic hose.

In the rest state, the initial cross-sections of the elastic hose canpreferably be semicircular, four-sided or pinched-in.

It is favourable if the elastic inner hose is reinforced, in particularin the region of the opening-free walls.

It is favourable to have a filter material between the inner hose anddraw-in tube, this filter material preventing extremely fine particlesfrom blocking the openings during take in.

Some walls preferably contain these holes, which are cylindrical in therest state, of an elasticity such that the through-passage cross-sectionof these holes is reduced considerably in the case of deformation as aresult of superatmospheric pressure/subatmospheric pressure.

Use may be made of a highly elastic acid-proof/alkali-prooftemperature-adapted hose.

The hole ducts may also be designed conically with a cross-sectionwhich, depending on the application case, increases or decreases fromthe inside towards the outside.

In accordance with the inventive method mentioned in the introduction,the invention is, moreover, distinguished in that a protective structurewhich is open along a generatrix and is intended for protecting theactual take in/discharge is provided between the external surroundingsand the openings, and a filter material for the extremely fine materialwhich otherwise blocks the take-in openings is provided between takein/discharge and the surroundings.

The method can be developed in that, in dependence on increasingsuperatmospheric pressure (discharge) and subatmospheric pressure (takein), the operating medium increasingly deforms or displaces outletopenings, by way of a change in curvature of an elastic,opening-containing structure, in order to set uniform quantities.

The method can be implemented particularly favourably when the openingsare accommodated in a structure which is resistant to tensile stressing.

Further features of the invention can be gathered from the subclaims.

It cannot be denied that elastic hoses which consist of rubbers,plastic, PVC or thermoplastics and are in flattened form withcylindrical holes for discharging liquid and cleaning with gas, usuallyin the form of drainage tubes, are known per se.

The abovementioned object can be completely fulfilled by interaction ofthe measures according to the invention, in particular by the hosereinforcement, by the separate hose casing, by the temperature-adaptedmaterials, by the tension-resistant design and the specialcross-sections which may be used as appropriate (the holes can be madeby laser, by punching, piercing or ultrasound).

The walls are thus partially encased; they are tension-resistant on theoutside. Hole deformation during introduction is thus not to beexpected.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that such structures aresuitable for take in and discharge, in particular for in situ treatment.The combination of elastic inner hoses which have their cross-sectiondeformed in a defined manner, and may or may not have reinforcement, andless elastic tension-resistant outer casings which are open in thelongitudinal direction protects the inner hose against tensile strainand soiling.

The single-material disposal which is made possible by the separatehoses is obviously also favourable, this disposal being as importanttoday as design features were formerly.

The use of the word "temperature-adapted" above means that, independence on the surrounding ground and water temperature, the plasticof the hose remains elastic (appropriate Shore hardness) in order toensure an optimum regulating action. It is known that plastics changetheir elasticity at different temperatures.

The abovementioned conical holes in the rest state are achieved if,during the operation to make the holes, the hose is subjected tostressing; in this case a cylindrical hole is then drilled. This holethen becomes conical in the rest state. This measure has the effect ofpreventing particles of dirt from passing into the interior of the hosein the rest state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be explained in moredetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment for another purpose,

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment, and

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a highly elastic acid-proof/alkali-prooftemperature-adapted hose which has a continuous, semicircularcross-sectional deformation and is provided lengthwise, in the flat wallside, with cylindrical inlet openings. Incorporated in thecross-sectionally round wall is a reinforcement which prevents the hosecross-section from collapsing when liquids or gases are taken in. Thismakes it possible for liquids or gases to be taken in uniformly overlong lengths, with different subatmospheric pressures. This elastic hoseis encased by a tension-resistant hose, in the form of a protectivecasing, which is open over the entire length, and is also referred toabove as a "draw-in tube". As a result, the tensile forces, producedwhen elastic hoses are laid, which act on the hose and expand and damagethe material are compensated for. Formerly, the openings in the hosewall were warped, with the result that the regulating mechanism foruniform take in was no longer ensured. The elastic hose is positioned inthe protective casing such that the flattened section with the take-inopening is located in the closed rounded section of the hose, and thereinforced, semiround side of the elastic hose is directed towards thelongitudinal opening of the hose.

On both sides of the slit in the protective hose, filter material isintroduced between the semiround outer wall of the elastic hose and theinner wall of the protective casing, and this filter material bothprevents the extremely fine particles from passing to the take-inopening and avoids the inner hose being sucked against the protectivecasing.

The deformation during take in is indicated by dashed lines. It can beseen that the previously cylindrical opening deforms conically, and thecross-section is thus reduced (is transformed or "displaced" into anellipsoidal cross-section).

FIG. 2 is likewise a design with a semicircular cross-sectioncorresponding to FIG. 1, but without the partial reinforcement. It showsa hose for discharge purposes. As a result, there is no need for anyreinforcement of the elastic inner hose in this case, nor for any filterbetween the walls of the hoses. This elastic cross-sectionally deformedinner hose is brought into its operating position with the aid of atension-resistant hose casing since, otherwise, the elastic material isexpanded and/or damaged and the warping of the outlet opening means thatthe regulating mechanism is no longer ensured.

It is important that the elastic semicircular inner hose is positionedin the protective hose such that the outlet openings come to lie on thesame side as the opening of the protective hose. The holes of the innerhose are thus aligned with the opening of the outer hose. Here too, thedashed line illustration shows how, in the case of increased discharge,the outer hose is expanded, and the openings are thus displaced andreduced in cross-section. This compensates for a drop in pressure, forexample as a result of friction over long lengths.

FIG. 3 shows a special hose for taking in liquid chemicals on watersurfaces. A highly elastic acid-proof/alkali-proof temperature-adaptedhose, here with a square cross-section, is provided. The hose isreinforced (dark circle-arc piece) on two mutually opposite wall sides,and cylindrical take-in openings are provided, along the hose, on theother two, elastic sides. The material is of such a nature that the hosefloats on the water surface, and the take-in openings can take in thelighter chemicals by way of subatmospheric pressure in the hose.

This design is for discharge and take-in purposes. This is illustratedby dashed lines again in the figure itself. In the case ofsuperatmospheric pressure, the elastic wall is expanded and thecross-sections of the outlet openings become smaller; in the case ofatmospheric pressure, the largest cross-section of the cylindrical holeis ensured. In the case of subatmospheric pressure, the cross-sectionbecomes smaller again, as is depicted.

FIG. 4 shows a highly elastic acid-proof/alkali-prooftemperature-adapted discharge hose for liquids which has a pinched-incross-sectional deformation and, by virtue of its reinforcement/wallstrengthening on both sides, is insensitive to tensile forces duringlaying. In the drawing, the reinforcement is illustrated as a short,dark circle-arc piece, for example, in the short sides of therectangular basic body with rounded corners and pinched-in longitudinalsides, in which the holes are provided, for example, centrally.

It is shown how the hose expands during discharge (this is a dischargehose) and how, consequently, the outlet openings become conical and thecross-section becomes smaller.

It is surprising that the measure of the invention also makes itpossible to take in fluids (for example chemicals floating on the wateror chemicals seeping into the ground).

I claim:
 1. Hose system comprising:an elastic hose of deformableasymmetric or of basic geometric shapes and cross-section deformed withregard to the geometric shapes selected from the group consisting ofsemicircle, circle, triangle, rectangle, square, polygon, and ellipse;openings arranged along the elastic hose and over long lengths of theelastic hose, said opening for the uniform discharge of liquids orgases; an outer draw-in tube having a, non-closed cross-section, andbeing particularly open along a generatrix, for accommodating theelastic hose; and a partly elastic reinforcement of the elastic hose,said partly elastic reinforcement located particularly in those regionsof walls of the elastic hose where the walls of the elastic hose have noopenings.
 2. The hose system according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe cross-sections of the elastic hose in rest condition are of halfcircle, rectangular or a preselected asymmetric cross-section--tailoredshape.
 3. The hose system according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe preselected asymmetric cross-section--tailored shape consists of aflat rounded cross-section shape having draw-in longitudinal sides. 4.The hose system according to claim 3, further comprising a filtermaterial between the elastic hose and the outer draw-in tube.
 5. Thehose system according to claim 4, wherein the filter material isadequately configured to filter extremely fine particles which otherwiseblock the openings arranged along the elastic hose.
 6. The hose systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that those walls which containthe openings arranged along the elastic hose, which openings arecylindrical in the rest state, are of an elasticity such that thethrough-passage cross-section of these openings is reduced in the caseof deformation as a result of superatmospheric pressure/subatmosphericpressure.
 7. The hose system according to claim 1, characterized inthat, in the case of the elastic hose cross-section being thesemi-circular cross-section, the semi-circular cross-section having aflat wall side and a semi-round side thereof, the cylindrical inletopenings for take-in purposes are provided in the flat wall side, thereinforcement being incorporated in the round side of the wall.
 8. Thehose system according to claim 7, characterized in that the flat wallside with the cylindrical inlet openings for take-in purposes is locatedin the closed round section of the draw-in tube/protective hose, and thereinforced, semi-round side of the elastic hose is directed towards thelongitudinal opening of the outer draw-in tube.
 9. The hose systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that, for taking in liquidchemicals on water surfaces, the elastic hose is designed with asubstantially square cross-section, which is reinforced on two mutuallyopposite wall sides, and has cylindrical take-in openings, along theelastic hose, on the other two mutually opposite, elastic wall sides,the material is of such a nature that the elastic hose floats on watersurface, and the take-in openings can take in the lighter chemicals byway of subatmospheric pressure in the interior region of the elastichose.
 10. The hose system according to claim 1, characterized in that,in the design of the hose system as a discharge hose system, the elastichose for liquids is provided with a pinched-in cross-section deformationand, by virtue of reinforcement/wall strengthening on both side, isinsensitive to tensile forces during laying of the elastic hose.
 11. Thehose system according to claim 1, characterized in that the the openingsarranged along the elastic hose are designed conically with across-section which, depending on the application case, increases ordecreases from the inside towards the outside.
 12. The hose systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that, for discharge purposes theopenings arranged along the elastic hose are located in a concavedeformation, and for take-in purposes, the openings arranged along theelastic hose are located in a convex deformation.
 13. The hose systemaccording to claim 12, characterized in that, in the case of asymmetrichose profiles, one or more of the openings arranged along the elastichose are located in the deformable portion of the elastic hose segment.